By: Felix Ikpotor
There is palpable fear and anxiety in Rivers state ahead of the rerun election slated for Saturday
Already, an army major and another soldier have been killed in the latest violence in the state. Meanwhile, the APC and the PDP are blaming each other for the killings.
The killings which took place along the Bille waterways in Degema when the soldiers allegedly ran into suspected sea pirates.
The sea pirates allegedly escaped through the waterways.
The army spokesman in Rivers State, Capt. Eli Lazarus confirmed the killing but said the army is after the culprits.
The state government in a statement issued by the commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Austin Tam-George accussed the APC of masterminding the killings and further called for an independent international investigation into the incidence.
Tam-George said the killing was carried out by the APC to pitch Rivers communities against the federal government and the army.
“ In reaction, the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Dakuku Peterside blamed the killing on what he alleged as the provocative statements by Governor Nyesom Wike and members of the PDP. He also alleged that the governor was camping 3,000 boys in the area.
Also, the former chairman of Andoni Local government in the state, Orom Nte has alleged that his house at Ngo the council headquarters was set ablaze by suspected arsonist while an unidentified man was murdered in the area.
Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken delivery of electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and has commenced distribution.
Similarly, the senate president, Bukola Saraki in a statement has called on the various stakeholders in the rerun elections to ensure that the exercise is free, fair, credible and violence-free.
Chairman of the state council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Chika Onuegbu in a statement had joined other stakeholders to advocate for a peaceful election.
Onuegbu in a statement noted that a violent-free election would ensure peace in the state.
The state government had earlier on Wednesday declared Thursday and Friday work free days to enable workers travel for the election even as there is presently a heavy military presence in the state.
